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Absolutely to control people. The first thing on the agenda : RULES written by men. Rules pertaining to matters below the waist. You figure it out. Toss in a scary god, some locusts = FEAR. Personal faith is something else entirely, and NO ONE can dictate HOW we should or should not see God.
I don't think religions began as an effort to control people. I think humans quite naturally have questions about the universe. Even as we learn more and more about the hows of the universe, the how doesn't answer why. For some people, there is a need to have the why answered. And people had experiences which they interpreted in ways to help them answer that why.
I think religion began as one person's answers to the questions about why made sense to others, satisfied those basic needs, and it wasn't about control at first, but evolved into a way to control people. And the issue, for me, isn't really about how a church or a religion controls the people who choose to believe in the particular tenets of a relition. I think it becomes an issue when a church or religion attempts to control non-believers.
I believe that the "roots" of religion were the attempts of early man to control an unpredictable enviornment and to grant "blessings" (good hunting, healthy children, etc.) At some point however, religion did become a method of controling large populations. . . . not the original root, but a related evil.
I was not referring to a general belief in something higher as existed but to organized religion.
Absolutely to control people. The first thing on the agenda : RULES written by men. Rules pertaining to matters below the waist. You figure it out. Toss in a scary god, some locusts = FEAR. Personal faith is something else entirely, and NO ONE can dictate HOW we should or should not see God.
I don't think religions began as an effort to control people. I think humans quite naturally have questions about the universe. Even as we learn more and more about the hows of the universe, the how doesn't answer why. For some people, there is a need to have the why answered. And people had experiences which they interpreted in ways to help them answer that why.
I think religion began as one person's answers to the questions about why made sense to others, satisfied those basic needs, and it wasn't about control at first, but evolved into a way to control people. And the issue, for me, isn't really about how a church or a religion controls the people who choose to believe in the particular tenets of a relition. I think it becomes an issue when a church or religion attempts to control non-believers.
right but again beliefs about whatever and organized religion full of rules is night and day
Though I generally disagree with the OPs politics, I find the question simple and direct with a simple yes/no answer.
I'm an atheist and a conservative, which is something of a rarity on this forum. I see religion (not a belief system) as nothing more than a tool to control the masses. If I had plans to gain real power over the people, it's what I'd do. Religion is a great tool for those seeking political power. Every culture on the planet is conditioned from childhood to believe in various fairy tales. By the time the average kid has passed his formative years, he's already been fed Santa, Tooth fairies, monsters under the bed, Easter Bunnies, etc. Since their minds are already accustomed to accepting nonsense as fact, it's not hard at all to sell them on a deity that instructs them to give unto Caesar....
Ultimately all religions are eventually exposed (like GW) and rejected but our early childhood training, the one constant, makes us seek out a new religion to replace the one that failed us.
Religion and Government used to be one in the same so was it not created to control the masses?
The answer is absolutely not.
If you knew your history and Christian history you wouldn't ask this question because the answer would be beyond obvious.
Though I generally disagree with the OPs politics, I find the question simple and direct with a simple yes/no answer.
I'm an atheist and a conservative, which is something of a rarity on this forum. I see religion (not a belief system) as nothing more than a tool to control the masses. If I had plans to gain real power over the people, it's what I'd do. Religion is a great tool for those seeking political power. Every culture on the planet is conditioned from childhood to believe in various fairy tales. By the time the average kid has passed his formative years, he's already been fed Santa, Tooth fairies, monsters under the bed, Easter Bunnies, etc. Since their minds are already accustomed to accepting nonsense as fact, it's not hard at all to sell them on a deity that instructs them to give unto Caesar....
Ultimately all religions are eventually exposed (like GW) and rejected but our early childhood training, the one constant, makes us seek out a new religion to replace the one that failed us.
Wait are you telling me that there is no tooth fairy?? than explain the tooth under pillow being replaced with money..
Though I generally disagree with the OPs politics, I find the question simple and direct with a simple yes/no answer.
I'm an atheist and a conservative, which is something of a rarity on this forum. I see religion (not a belief system) as nothing more than a tool to control the masses. If I had plans to gain real power over the people, it's what I'd do. Religion is a great tool for those seeking political power. Every culture on the planet is conditioned from childhood to believe in various fairy tales. By the time the average kid has passed his formative years, he's already been fed Santa, Tooth fairies, monsters under the bed, Easter Bunnies, etc. Since their minds are already accustomed to accepting nonsense as fact, it's not hard at all to sell them on a deity that instructs them to give unto Caesar....
Ultimately all religions are eventually exposed (like GW) and rejected but our early childhood training, the one constant, makes us seek out a new religion to replace the one that failed us.
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So far, the majority here doesn't like how you framed the question.
